Thursday, March 25, 2010

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

mug week continues...

i liked these so much i made about 30+ of them in purple and aqua. you can see those tomorrow. i'll have some for sale onlineand in myetsy shop in addition to my open studio event on may 1st. salty not sweet in collinwood has some of these too.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Monday, March 22, 2010

My web shop is finally up! You know, the one I said would be done by the end of February. Well better late than never. I will still be listing new things on both this site and my Etsy shop. This year I'm doing less shows and focusing my time with the online sales. Art festivals = killing me. I'm working on some proposals for gallery shows too. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime visit my shopHERE!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

New Class begins at my studio next week!

Hand building with Clay (all levels)

This class is designed for beginning students as well as more advanced students wishing to expand their hand building skills. Using stoneware clay you will earn how to create functional pieces and sculptures using slab, coiling and basic mold techniques. Decorative techniques and glazing techniques will also be addressed.Tools are available for use. There is no need to purchase any tools separately.

Cost $105. Includes (1) 25lb bag of clay, glazes and 2 firings. Additional clay may be purchase for $15 for a 25lb bag. Payment is due upon registration. Class size is limited to 6 students. Spaces cannot be held without payment.Please note: There is a $25 withdrawal fee. Notice of withdrawal must be received no later than 7 days prior to the first day of class. No refunds will be given after that time.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Next round of Hand building classes with clay starts March 24th!

This class is designed for beginning students as well as more advanced students wishing to expand their hand building skills. Using stoneware clay you will earn how to create functional pieces and sculptures using slab, coiling and basic mold techniques. Decorative techniques and glazing techniques will also be addressed.Tools are available for use. There is no need to purchase any tools separately.

Cost $105. Includes (1) 25lb bag of clay, glazes and 2 firings. Additional clay may be purchase for $15 for a 25lb bag. Payment is due upon registration. Class size is limited to 6 students. Spaces cannot be held without payment.Please note: There is a $25 withdrawal fee. Notice of withdrawal must be received no later than 7 days prior to the first day of class. No refunds will be given after that time.

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Reasons I love and hate the internet...

For better or for worse we have the exciting world of the internet and social networking. Its a necessary tool for me to market my artwork. Twitter, Facebook, and Blogger have reached a larger audience for my work than I ever could by just doing shows. Its impossible to travel and sell work. With the internet comes opportunity. But it also brings with it a daily hassle. I would love nothing more to go Amish every weekend and shut down the computer. Its like a different planet sometimes. I attempted to stay offline all weekend but getting up my web shop is slightly impossible to do if I'm not online. Marketing the next open studio would also be impossible. So here I am on a Sunday morning dealing with internet la la land. Here is what I love and what I hate about the bizarre world wide web...

I like that:

I can market my work for free and I control the content.

I sell artwork by simpling clicking and posting in on Facebook.

Through twitter and blogger I have formed relationships with other ceramic artists I admire. The same can be said with galleries. I would have never "met" these people without these tools.

You are ACCOUNTABLE. Once you post it, its there. No taking it back. Its a diary whether be written or visual like the majority of this blog.

And lastly and the most shallow reason of all, online shopping. You can buy my artwork. I can avoid the mall. We all win.

I hate that:

I am at a computer for so much of my day. I'm a potter. I want to make a mug. Not always have to tweet I made a mug and now its on etsy then go post it on Facebook. I would rather just be making.

People think that the internet world is a true indication of the real world. Get a life. Social networking doesn't make you social. Going to see an art opening, selling your work at a show or taking in a museum is social. Tweeting the entire time you are at one of these events is NOT.

Defamation of character. Look up the word "libel". If you have a problem with a gallery that's one thing. Naming names is another. Social networking should be used for positive marketing of whatever it is you are selling.

And the last thing I hate is the dissection of everything your write, tweet, etc. For example today's Facebook status update is simply "Sunday Studio Therapy". Its simple, its Sunday and working in my studio is like therapy to me. However some people like to take your updates dissect them and then dissect those parts. This is the hardest for me because I've done it. Social networking is slowly becoming a battlefield for the passive aggressive. I had to sit down this weekend and reevaluate and decide why I'm really on such sites. Its goes back to accountability. I need to use these sites for what I initially set out to do. Not mud wrestle via internet.

Time to take my own advice. Off to do things in the real world this afternoon. Consider it a quick nap in the world of social networking.

Thursday, March 04, 2010

C R A C K E D AND CONGEALED...

this week in the studio:

ok so apparently when you stack mugs on top of coasters in the bisque kiln the coasters do not like this. then they get hair line cracks. then 12 sets of coasters become 5 sets and lots of test tiles. you know what that means...more $1 tiles for sale at the next open studio.

also since my studio is slightly brisk in the winter my wax resist is turning into a brick. today at trusty drugmart i invested an $11 mini crockpot to melt this brick. i get to try it out tomorrow. then hopefully i can move forward and get some glazing done this weekend.

i really want to try some new glaze combos and buy new glazes. alas, i am going to ny in april so i'm saving funding for that trip. going to work with what i have and try to come up with some new ideas.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

I get to be a student again!

I stumbled upon a great workshop being offered at the Wayne Center for the Arts in Wooster, Ohio. I cannot wait to take it. I have not been a student since 2006 and I want to learn some new tricks both for my own work and to share with my students. Check it out at http://www.functionalworkshop.com/.

I feel like I need a push. My work for 2010 has been good but I still feel like I'm stuck. Hopefully this will be the direction I have been craving. And it will be nice to meet some fellow potters in all levels of the playing field.